Electrically-controlled pressure-regulating system



Jan. 13, 1931 J. c. GROBLE ELEGTRICALLY CONTROLLED PRESSURE RE GULATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1931 J. c. GROBLE 1,788,429

I ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED PRESSURE REGULATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 22 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 muuluml- I IIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Jan. 13, 1931' moon 1:. enema, or mnim'son,

INDIANA,A8 SIGNOR T GROBLE GAS BEGULATIN G COMPANY, 01' ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED PRESSUFE-REGULATING SYSTEM Application filed December 22, 1929. Serial No. 827,836.

The present invention relates to a pressure regulating system and more particularly to an improvement in regulators especially applicable to pressure. regulating s stems of A the Reynolds type for automatical y increasing and decreasing the outlet pressure of the regulator by remote control.

It is well known in the pressure regulating art that the ordinary regulating system is incapable of. at all times meeting the fluctuations in demand at the consumers efid of the mains associated with the system. This. is especially true during periods of high or abnormal demand. One of the difiicultles which contributes to this condition resides in the fact that most systems donot take into account the frictional loss in pressure of the fluid or gas through the mains. Obviously, the greater the length of main connected to the system, the greater will be the frictional loss in pressure, and as a result the system is unable to promptly meet the-fluctuations in demand at the outlet or consumers end of the mains. I y It has been attempted to solve this difiiculty by at alltimes maintaining a high regulator pressure throu bout the entire distributing system, but th s has proved unsatisfactory due to the fact that the leakage loss in such a system is very high. a Hence it has been found that the most satisfactory way of controlling the flow of fluid through a distributing system is toprm vide the end of the distributing. line with a regulating device responsive to pressure for controlling the distant regulating system proper. Such a system with an auxiliary control of that type is usually referred to as a remote control pressure regulating system. It is with this type of system that the present invention is concerned. 1

I find that heretofore pressure regulating systems of the Reynolds type have not been remotely controlled for the reason that no suitable device is available for' eflectin'g such control. I therefore propose to provide regu-.

lating systems of the so-called Reynolds type with a remote control feature whereby a system will, during periods of high demand, promptly increase the outlet pressure in the and adapted to increase the outlet pressure .ulating system of the Reynolds type pro wid'ed with my. novel auxiliary and remote regulating system, so that the abnormal demand at the consumers or'distributing end of the system is promptly met.

An object of the present invention is to pgrgovide pressure regulating systems of the ynolds type with aremote control for enabling the system to promptly meet the pressure required'during periods of high orabnormal demand.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an auxiliary electrical pressure regulating deviceespecially adapted for use in conjunction with a pressure regulating system of the Reynolds type afforded by the regulating system proper during periods of high or abnormal demand.

In accordance with the general features of'the present invention, there is provided a pressure responsive device at the consumers end of a gas distributing line, an electrically operated valve connected to and controlled by the pressure responsive device at a distance from the device and a pipe connection includin said valve for bypassing liquid around t e lowpressureauxiliary regulator of the pressure regulating system proper whenever the valve is operated by the. pressure responsive device whereby the pressure on the outlet side of the system is promptly increased tomeet abnormal demands at the distributing end. Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is .illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. I On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a pressure mg control regulating device.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the electrically operated valve partly in section.

' igure 3 is a sectional view taken on substantially the line III-III of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

igure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of the mercury switch oper- 0 able by the remote regulator for controlling the operation of the valve shown in Figure 2.

As shown. on the drawings:

Like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views. The reference characters 10 and 11 designate generally the inlet and outlet ends of a pressure regulating system to which myinvention is applicable. Attentionis directed to the fact that the'system shown in Figure 1 embodies the features. and principles of the well-known Reynolds pressure regulating system and hence operates in substantially the same Way as the latter with the exception of the improvements comprising the present invention. Positioned between the inlet and outlet is a main regulatondesignated gen erally by the reference character 12, above which isdisposed a main regulatordia-v -phragm bowl 13. The diaphragm in the bowl 13 is connected to the lower end of a rod 14, the upper end of which is forked at 15.

This forked end 15 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of a main regulator lever 16, one end of which is pivotally c'onnected to the forked upper end, 17 of a rod 18 having its lower end connected to the diaphragm in a master. bowl 19. The rod 18 carries a plurality of weights 20 for weightin the diaphragm in bowl 19.

he inlet 10 has connected to it one end of a pipe line 21, the other end of which is connected to the inlet side of .a high pressure auxiliary or secondary regulator 22. The outlet side of-this pressure regulator 22 is connected by a pipe line 23 to the inlet side of the low pressure auxiliary or secondary regulator 24. Also connected to .this pipe line.

23, as I shall morefully describe hereinafter, is a pipe line 40 leading to the electrically operated valve 41 of my auxiliary regulating system. The outlet side of the auxiliary regulator 24 is connected by. a pipe line 25' to the outlet 11 of the system.

An intermediate" portion of the pipeline 23 is disposed in communication with the upper end of a pipe line 26, the lower end'of which is 'dis osed in communication with the lower cham r of bowl 19. The hand valve 27 is connected to the pipeline 23 on the high ressure'side of the line 26 and is adapted to' y e manually operated to control the flow of fluid to. the low pressure regulator. The

1 outlet side of the auxiliary low pressure reg ulator has connected to it-a Hand valve 28, by means of which the flow'of fluid from this regulator to the'outlet ll may be manually adjusted. g

The primary lever 16 has pivotally connected to its other end adjacent the forked end 15 of rod 14, a link connection 30, both ends of which are bifurcated. The upper end of the link is pivotally connected to the primary lever 16 and its lower end is pivotally connected to a bracket 31 secured to the "pass connection for bypassing1 top of the main regulator bowl 13. Slidably mounted on the primary lever 16 is an adjust able wei ht 35 by means ofwhich pressure on the diap ragm in the bowl 13 may be varied.

It will be noted that the main regulator housing 12is connected to the bowl 13 by a flanged tube36, which has connectedto it I oneend of a pipe 37, the other end of-which is connected to the pipe line 25 connecting the discharge of the auxiliary regulator 24 to the outlet 11. This pipe line 37 comprises an equalizenpipe and serves ,to relievethe chamber in the tube 36 from any gas pockets,

so thatythe pressure in this chamber and in for connection with the underside of the I auxiliary bowl 19 through the'pipe lines 23 and 26 for the pur ose of at predetermined times bypassing t e fluid or gas around the low pressure secondary regulator 24 into the outlet 11 in response to an abnormal demand in the consumers end of distributing mains.

I As previously described, a pi e line 40 serves to connect the inlet side 0 the valve 41 with'the pipe lines 23 and 26 of the regulating system. .The'outlet side of the valve 41'is connected by means of a pipe line 42 tothe outlet 11 of the distributing main. A hand controlled valve 43 is connected to the pipeline 42. The two pipe lines 40 and 42, moluding the valve 41, comprise a by.-

the fluid in. e fluid under pipes 23'and 26 for, bypassing t the-diaphragm in bowl 19 around the low pressure auxiliary regulator 24'directly into the outlet 11 Obviously, by increasing the .flow from under the diaphragm in bowl 19,

the pressureunder the dia gm in this bowl dro s and as a resu t the primary lever 16' alls, thereby increasing the open-v in of the main valve.

t is .the'valve 41 which controls the flow of fluid through the bypass pipes 40 and42. This valve is controlled by a pressure responsive) bowl 45 connected to the gasdIS tributing line at a point 46, which is distant from the regulating system proper. In

fact the point 46 may be disposed at or adjacent the consumers or distributing end of the gas main.

The bowl 45 is conventional and comprises upper and lower chambers 47 and 48 separated by a conventional diaphragm (not shown).' The lower chamber 47 is connect ed by pipe line 49 to the point 46 in the end of the distributing line 50. Extending out of chamber 48 and connected to the diaphragm in the bowl 45 is a stem 51 having secured 56. The operating arm 54 is shown as thereto two laterally extending lugs 52 and 53 between which projects a switch operating element 54 of a switch designated generally by the reference character 55. The switch 55, as shown. in Figure 4, is disposed in a housing 56 and comprises a sealed glass tube 57 rigidly mounted in a holder 58, pivota-lly mounted at 59 t0 the side of hogsing em rigidly connected to the holder 58 so tha movement of the arm 54 will result inthe tilting of the glass tube aboutits pivot. Dis posed in the tube 57 is a quantity of mercury 61- which serves to connect contacts 62 and 63 extending into the interior of the glasstubc 57. These contacts are connected y conductors 64 and 65 respectivel minals 66 and 67 on a terminal secured to a side of housing 56. The terminals 66 and 67 are in turn connected to electrical conductors 69 and 70.

As shown in Figure 1 the conductors 69 and 70 are art of a line 71 connected to a power line 2. The other power line 73 is connected to a conductor 74. The two conductors 71 and 74 are connected to an electo tertric motor 75 associated with the valve 41;

The electric motor, designated by the reference character 75, is of conventional construction and is rigidly attached to the side of a gear housing 76' secured to the top of valve 41, which valve also is of conventional construction. The armature shaft 77 of the motor 75 extends into the housing 76 and carries a small pinion 78 meshing with a larger gear 79 mounted on an auxiliary shaft 80 having its ends suitably journalled in the Walls of the housing 76. One end, 81, of this shaft 80 extends 76 and is squared so as wrench or the like whereby the gears may be manually operated.

The shaft 80 also has secured to it a small-- er gear 82 meshing with a large gear 83,

.- which has rigidly connected to it a small gear 84 meshing with a rack 85 formed on the upper end of a valve operating rod 86. The upper end of this rod 86 extends into a tubular boss 87 formed integral with the rod 86. The lower end of this rod 86 is connected to the reciprocable member 88 of conventional valve 41. From the foregoing it will be evident that'when the motor 75 is actuated, the rod 86 may be reciprocated'to either raise or lower the valve element 88 so as to open and close the valve 41.'

The operation of my novel auxiliary and remote control for the Reynolds systeni is briefly as follows: The low pressure orsec ondary regulator 24 is wei hted for the minimum outlet pressure. 'I he main regulator lever 16 is weighted with weights 35 and the master bowl stem 18 is weighted with weights 20 for the maximum outlet pressure; The independent pressure regupressure that is desired at the Nowas the pressure drops a 'a'cent point l ck 68 outlet pressure, and the same out of the housing to accommodate a lating bowl 45 is weighted for the minimumoint 46.

46, which, for example, may be ue to an abnormal demand, the diaphragm stem 51 operates the electric switch 55, thus closing the circuit associated therewith and causing the motor 75 to come into play. This motor operates the rack 85 and opens the valve 41. As a result of the opening of the valve 41, the fluid is by-passed around the low pressure auxiliary regulator 24 from the pipes 23 and 26, thus decreasing the pressure under.the diaphragm of the bowl'19. Thereafter the weights 35 and 20 become efiective to maintain the maximum pressure at the butlet of the system whereby .the abnormal demand for fluid at point 46 in the distributing ,line 50 is met. I

When the pressure at the oint 46 increases to an amount at which the iaphra of the bowl '45 is weighted for, then the diaphragm stem 51 is raised, the lower lug 52 comes into I I contact with the switch operating arm54 and as a result tilts the switch to its open position. This in turn breaks the circuit and stops the motor 75.

Thereafter, the valve stem 86 of valve 41 is forced downwardly by the weight of valve 7 element 88 thus closing the valve and allowing the fluid to again pass through the auxiliary low pressure regulator 24. t

It is to be noted that the instant the electric valve 41 is'ope'ned the secondary regulator 24 is closed due to the increase in the j flow of gas coming through the high ressure secondary regulator 22 and passing t rough the needlepoint valve 27 is equalized with the pressure under the master bowl 19 and the pressure in the outlet pipe line 11 leading from the regulator. t

When the electric valve 41 is wide open valve 43 can be ad'usted to give the proper gas flow through t e electric valve so as to eliminate any ossibility of a so-called huntingaction. owever, if valve 43 was wide open the pressure in the distributing system acts as a cushion against the pressure under the master bowl 19 which would prevent any hunting action on the part of the main regulator 1 It must be understood that the master bowl stem 18'is weighted with weights 20 and the lever -16 is weighted with weight 35 for the maximum outletvpressur'e which is-controlled.

as above stated and by-passes regulator24 which is closed oil the instant electric valve 41 is opened and allows a free flow of gas from underneath the master bowl into the low pressure main leading to the distribution system. This causes the pressure to increase and the instant that the electric valve 41 is closed the pressure gradually drops in the distribution system until it reaches theminimum pressure that regulator 24 is set to oper ate at, at which time'this regulator comes into action and controls the action of the main regulator at the minimum pressure.

I am aware that many changes may be made and \iumerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore doinot purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination, a fluid distributing main, a pressure regulating system of the Reynolds type associated with said main and control means connected to said line at a point remote from said system responsive to the flow of fluid past said point for acting on said system to maintain a relatively con stant pressure in the line at said point.

2. In combination, a fluid distributing main, a pressure regulating system 'of the Reynolds type associated with said main, and control means connected tosaid line at a point remote from said system responsive to the flow of fluid past said point for acting on said system to maintain a relatively constant pressure in the line at said point, said control means comprising a pressure responsive de vice and an electrically operated valve positioned adjacent the system and controlled by said device. 3. In combination, a fluid distributing main, a pressure regulating system of the Reynolds type associated with said main, and control means connected to said line at a.

' 7 located adjacent said system.

ing system ofthe Reynolds type, associated 4. .In combination with a pressure regulatwith a fluid distributing. line, means connected tothe distributing line at a point dis taut from the system for zit-predetermined times acting upon said system to increase the pressure in said stem. I

5. In combination with a pressure regulating'system of the Reynolds type, includ; ing a low pressure auxiliary regulator associated with a fluid distributing line, means connected to said line at a point remote from said system for at predetermined times bypassing the fluid around said auxiliary regulator directly into the outlet side of the system, so as to maintain'a substantially constant pressure at said point in the line.

6. In combination with a pressure regulating system of the Reynolds type, associated end of the line for at predetermined times that point.

with ,a fluid distributing line, pressure 're'-' sponsive means connected to said'line at a' point distant from said :system for acting upon said system so as to maintain a relatively constant pressure at said point.

7. In combination with a pressure regulatwith a fluiddistributing line, pressure re- SPOIISIVG means connected to the consumers acting upon said system to increase the pressure at the outlet side of the system so' as to maintain a relatively constant pressure at said distributing end.

8. In combination with a pressure re latingsystem ofthe Reynolds type, inclu ing a .low pressure auxiliary regulator associated with a fluid distributing line, means for bypassing fluid around said auxiliary regulator.

directly into the outlet side of the system, valve means associated, with said yp'ass means and pressure responsive means connected to the distributing end of said'line for opening and closing said valve means. 9. The method of controlling a pressure regulating system of the Reynolds type, in-

cluding low pressure auxiliary regulator which consists in bypassing the fluid around the low pressure auxiliary regulator at predetermined times so as to'increase the pressure at the outlet side of the system and controlling said bypassing of the fluid in response to the pressure prevailing at a distant point in the distributing line, so that a relatively constant pressure may be maintained at all times at the end of the distributing line.

10. The method'of controlling the operation of a pressure regulating system of the Reynolds type, including a low pressure auxiliary regulator, so as to maintain a relatively constant pressure at the consumersend I of a distributing line, which consists in rendering the low pressure regulator inefiective by bypassing the fluid or gas around the low pressure regulator into the outlet of the system whenever the pressure at a remote point in the distributing line falls below a redeterminedamount, so as to enable a su tially constant pressure to be maintained at 11-. In combination with a pressure regulat ing system including a low pressure auxiliary I regulator associated with a fluid pressure tlistributing line, fluid responsive means connected to the distributing line at a point remote from the system and by-pass means ading system of the Reynolds type, associated jacent said auxiliary regulator and operative.

by said fluid responsive means for at pre-- determined times by-passing the fluid around 1 said regulator;

12. In combination with a Reynolds pressure regulating system including a low pressure auxiliary re latorassociated with a T fluid distributing 'ne, fluid pressure responsive means connected to the distributing line at a point remote from the system and fluid conducting means adjacent said regulator and operable at predetermined times to render said auxiliary regulator inoperative so as to increase the flow of fluid through said system.

13. In combination with a pressure regulating system including a low ressure auxiliary regulator andmain regu ator bowl as sociated with the fluid distributing line, supplemental fluid pressure responsive means associated with said line for at predetermined times rendering said auxiliary regulator inoperative so as to cause the output of said iystem to be controlled by said main regulator owl.

14. In combination with a pressure regulating system including a low pressure auxiliary regulator and a weighted main regulator Valve and regulator bowl associated with the fluid distributing line, supplemental fluid pressure regulator means associated with said line for at predetermined time-s rendering said auxiliary regulator inoperative so as to cause said main valve and regulator bowl to control the output of said system as a function of the weights connected thereto;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Anderson, Indiana, county of Madison. l JACOB C. GROBLE. 

